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Several factors can make Nevada an attractive place to start a business, such as its policy against business or personal income tax. In addition, the large number of visitors to cities like Las Vegas and Reno can be attractive to business owners. If you intend to start a business in Nevada, an LLC can provide certain protections for you, your members and your business. 

Starting an LLC in Nevada doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to get started, from naming your business to filling out the necessary forms.

To start an LLC in Nevada, you must follow six steps: 

6 steps to start an LLC in Nevada

1. Choose your LLC business name

Before forming your LLC, you must decide what to call your business. As you brainstorm names, remember to incorporate Nevada’s LLC naming guidelines, including its restricted word list. In addition, we’ve created a business naming guide to help you come up with a name that is available, appropriate and marketable. 

Once you have selected a name, do some research to ensure the name is available for your use. A new business name must be distinguishable from other business names that are already registered with the Nevada Secretary of State. You can use SilverFlume, Nevada’s business portal, to see if your name is already registered. We also advise running the name through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s search trademark database to ensure the name is not nationally registered to a company.

If your selected name appears in either of these databases, you must brainstorm another name. You can do so by either slightly changing the name to make it different from the names that are in use or by coming up with a different name altogether. To slightly change the name, review Nevada’s LLC naming guidelines again for ways you can and cannot change the name to create an acceptable new one.

If you are not ready to submit your LLC formation paperwork, you can reserve the name for 90 days. Doing so ensures no other business takes your name before you officially register it on your LLC formation document. To reserve your name, create an account with Nevada’s SilverFlume business filing system. In Nevada, there is a $25 fee for reserving your LLC name. 

2. Name a registered agent

Anyone who wishes to form an LLC in Nevada must designate a registered agent who resides or is located in the state. Registered agents receive state and legal documents on the LLC’s behalf. To learn more about this role and your options for fulfilling it, we’ve created a registered agent guide.

Fulfilling this role in-house can be tedious and burdensome. If done incorrectly, it can lead to penalties or the inability to protect the LLC in court. If you cannot be your own registered agent, you can use a registered agent service instead. These registered agents have served thousands of companies. They know how to keep your LLC compliant and can guide you in doing so. Many even have legal counsel on staff should you need it.

3. Submit your articles of organization form

Next, you must fill out the LLC articles of organization form. This form is the standard form to legally create an LLC in the state of Nevada. You can access, fill out and submit the form through Nevada’s SilverFlume business filings system using the account you created in step one. A $75 fee applies for both domestic and foreign entities that wish to organize in the state. There is also a 2.5% fee if you pay by credit card. 

If you need help filling out this form, we’ve created an LLC articles of organization guide. 

In this formation process, you must also officially appoint your registered agent. To do so, fill out the included “registered agent acceptance/statement of change” form and pay a $60 filing fee. Your registered agent must sign this form.

In addition to filling out your articles of organization and registered agent form, Nevada requires you to submit an initial list with your application. The form for this list is added onto your articles of organization form. Simply put, you must provide the names and contact information for your LLC’s members on this list and pay a $150 filing fee. 

Finally, this form will also allow you to obtain the required state business license. This license comes with a $200 licensing fee. To learn more about other business licenses you may need, read our business license guide.

New LLC reporting requirement alert 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has implemented a new reporting requirement for all non-exempt LLCs starting on January 1, 2024. 

The requirement is called the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report and it is estimated to only take about 20 minutes to complete. 

Here’s what you need to know:

  • LLCs formed before January 1, 2024 have until January 1, 2025 to file.
  • LLCs formed between January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025 have 90 days to file from the confirmed date of the businesses’ registration.
  • New LLCs formed after January 1, 2025 will have 30 days to file from the confirmed date of formation.

For all details, FAQs and to file, visit FinCEN’s BOI website

4. Apply for an EIN

An employer identification number (EIN) is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify a business for various tax and financial purposes. For example, it is used to complete various tax forms for your LLC, such as 1099s. You might also need an EIN to complete key operational business tasks, such as hiring employees, opening a business bank account or applying for business funding. 

Applying for an EIN is free and can be done on the IRS website Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST. Our EIN guide walks you through what you need to apply for an EIN and its uses for your business operations. 

5. Create an operating agreement

Creating an operating agreement is not required when forming an LLC in Nevada. However, all LLCs should create one and keep it up to date. This document can provide legal protection in court, enhancement of your members’ limited liability protection and provide dissolution-prevention assistance. It is also often requested when an LLC is attempting to take advantage of business opportunities, such as engaging an investor. 

For in-depth assistance with this step, we created an LLC operating agreement guide that walks you through how to create an operating agreement, its full benefits to your LLC and any legal considerations you must attend to as you set up and maintain your agreement. 

6. File an annual list

In addition to your initial list (completed in step three), you must also file an annual list and renew your business license each year. Each year, it is due on the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed. You can file online using the Nevada SilverFlume account you created in step one. Filing your annual list costs $200 at the time of submission. 

In most states, this annual list is called an “annual report.” Our annual report guide offers more information about how to complete this step.

Find the best LLC services for Nevada: Best LLC services of 2024

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Setting up an LLC in Nevada isn’t free. You’ll have to pay at least $75 to form an LLC in the state, $200 to obtain the required business license, $60 to appoint your registered agent and $150 to submit your initial list, all of which are due when you form your LLC. Other fees may also apply, such as fees to hire an attorney and reserve your business name. Read our cost to start an LLC guide to learn about the total associated costs.

At the state level, Nevada has no personal or corporate net income tax for LLCs. However, your LLC may have to pay quarterly tax on employee wages or a commercial tax if it earns more than $4 million in gross revenue.

Bear in mind that federal tax still applies. While there is no direct federal tax on LLC income, there is still a personal and self-employment tax of 15.3%. It is applicable to members’ LLC earnings when filing their yearly personal income tax returns. Members may need to pay these taxes in quarterly installments throughout the year. However, it’s best to meet with a tax professional who can help keep your business in compliance.

Every LLC in Nevada is legally required to appoint and maintain registered agent. While you can be your own registered agent, this role can be burdensome and come with penalties if not fulfilled correctly. Many Nevada LLCs hire a registered agent service to ensure full compliance with state laws.

Yes. All Nevada LLCs must file an annual list, which is the state’s equivalent of an annual report. It is due the last day of the month in which you first formed your LLC each year. The fee to file an annual list is $150. However, you must also renew your business license when filing this annual list, which costs an additional $200 per filing. You can file your annual list online using a Nevada SilverFlume account.

To dissolve an LLC in Nevada, first review your operating agreement and follow its instructions for your LLC’s dissolution. Then, notify all creditors that the LLC is set to dissolve and pay any outstanding business debt. Finally, fill out a certificate of dissolution/cancellation of limited liability company form.The filing fee for this form is $100. To pay by credit card, you must also pay a 2.5% card processing fee. 

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Bob Haegele

BLUEPRINT

Bob Haegele is a freelance writer specializing in topics such as insurance, investing and credit cards. His work has appeared on Business Insider, CreditCards.com, and other nationally recognized outlets. Follow him on Twitter @thefellowfrugal.

Alana Rudder

BLUEPRINT

Alana is the deputy editor for USA Today Blueprint's small business team. She has served as a technology and marketing SME for countless businesses, from startups to leading tech firms — including Adobe and Workfusion. She has zealously shared her expertise with small businesses — including via Forbes Advisor and Fit Small Business — to help them compete for market share. She covers technologies pertaining to payroll and payment processing, online security, customer relationship management, accounting, human resources, marketing, project management, resource planning, customer data management and how small businesses can use process automation, AI and ML to more easily meet their goals. Alana has an MBA from Excelsior University.